Alarm mechanism for radiator tanks



L. C. GOBETZ.

ALARM MECHANISM FOR RADIATOR TANKS.

I APPLICATION FILED AUG-I8.'I92l.

' 1,430,073, Patented Sept. 26, 1922.

Patented ept 26, 1922.

UNITED STATES j LAFAYETTE c, eonnrz, 'ornaooKLYN, NEW YORK.

PAT NT OFFICE.

ALARM MECHANISM r'oiejnhnm'ron TANKS.

Application filed August 18,1921. Serial No. 493,254.

new and useful Improvements in Alarm Y Mechanisms for Radiator Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to signals or alarms for application tov the radiator-tanks of automobiles and other motor vehicles, and it resides in the novel features, structure and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The alarm mechanism of my invention is applied to and supported by the filler-cap of the radiator and comprises, in the preferred construction, a vertical whistlestem screwed into the radiator-cap, a dome or hood applied to the open lower end of said stern for directing steam thereunto and having a float chamber open at its bottom and sides below said stem and containing a float for closing said stem when water seeks to enter the same, and a manually operative valve-sleeve applied upon the whistle-stem above the radiator-cap and adapted for use in opening or closing the opening provided in said stem as the outlet for steam and at which, by the steam pressure, the whistle is caused to sound, together with other features incidental to the mechanism. The whistle-stem extends below the top of the radiator-cap and receives theaforesaid dome or hood and said stem also extends above the radiator-cap and preferably has mounted thereon a suitable ornament.

The purpose of my invention is to provide eflicient mechanism of the whistle-type which will be blown by steam pressure when abnormal conditions arise in the liquid circulation system for cooling the cylinders of the engine or motor, these conditions resulting in the liquid becoming overheated and creating a steam pressure which will eflect the blowing of the whistle. The abnormal conditions referred to arise from various causes, one being from alack of suflicient water in the system, another when the liquid is at the freezing point andbecomes coagulated and a third: from lack ofoil in the motor, all causing unnecessary strain and hence resulting in the overheating of the liquid and the creation of a steam'pressure which will cause the whistle to sound an alarm or signal. I

, The present invention embodies certain improvements on the signal or alarm mechanism made the subject of Letters Patent 1,395,271, granted to me on November 1, 1921. l

1 One of the main objects of the present in- -'vent1on is to provide meanswhich will persteam to flow into the lower end of the whistle-stem but which will prevent the flow of water into said stem, and this result I attain by providing a special float chamber below the stem, with afloat therein which is terior of the radiator.

The invention will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference being had to accom- -panying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a radiator for an automobile equipped with the'alarm mechanism of my invention;

' Fig. 2 1s a vertical section through the same, taken onthe dotted line 2-2 of Fig. 1; c Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the same, taken on the dotted line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. i is a central vertical section through thefloat chamber'and its contained float which I apply below the whistle-stem for preventing the entrance of water to said stem, and v Fig. 5 is a bottomview, partly broken away and partly in section, of the same, the

at one side thereof'a whistle or sound opening l' i for the outlet of steam and containing a reed 15 of usual construction, the upper end of the stem 13 being closed and the lower barrel portion 16 of said stem being externally threaded and screwed into a threaded opening 17 in the cap 12. Upon the barrel portion -16 directlyatthe top of the cap 12 is applied a spring washer 18 which serves to bind or tighten together the several parts of the mechanism and as a rest for a rotary sleeve 19 which may be employed as a Valve for opening or closing the whistle opening 14, as hereinafter explained.

Upon the barrel portion 16 of the whistlestem, within the cap 12, I apply a nut 20 screwed up against the lower surface of the top of the cap, and below the nut 20 1 apply upon the said barrel portion of the whistle stem a dome or hood 21 having in its upper end a threaded opening to screw upon the barrel portion 16 and up against the nut 20, said dome having downwardly diverting side walls'and containing a vertical casing 22 within which is a vertically movable float seal or disk 23 centrally below the barrel 16, the diameter of said float being greater than the diameter of the bore of the whistle-stem. The lower end of the dome 21 is open, and said dome at its lower edge is preferably located above the lower edge of the cap 12 so that when said cap is removed and placed on a table or the ground or other support, the dome 21 is not liable to be knocked against such support. The dome 21 is within the cap 12 and serves the purpose o1. centering the rising steam and directing the same into thelower end of the whistle-stem.

The casin 22 is in the form of a short tube having free openings 2 in its sides for the entrance of steam and an inwardly extended annular flange 25 at its otherwise open lower on d to serve a seat for the float 23. The

upper end of the casing 22 is threaded to engage the threaded walls oi a recess 26 formed in the inner upper portion of the dome 21, whereby the casing and dome are secured together. The casing 22 is centrally below the whistle-stem and therein is formed a vertical chamber'ior the float 23, which may be a cork disk reinforced at its lower face by a thin metal plate 27, and said float is provided with a vertical pin 28 which enters the whistle-stem and there *ith serves to maintain the float horizontal. The casing 22 is open at its sides and bottom and hence generated steam acts against both sides of the float and as a consequence does not move the float from its seat The steam however escapes from the float chamber and enters the whistle stem and under proper pressure blowsthe whistle or sounds the signal or alarm. hen water rises within the cap 12, it will act against the float 20 and move the same to the upper end of the float chamber and against the lower end of the whistle-stem, closing said end and preventingthe o the water out through the whistle opening 14. The purpose of the casing 22 and 'lioat 23 is solely for excluding water from the whistle-stem. and this is one of the impor tantfeatures of my invention. In the constructionshown the casing 22 is, through the upper end of the dome 21 as an intermediate connection, secured to the whistle-stem, but I do not limit my invention to any particular means for connecting the casing 22 with said stem.-

The sleeve 19 is confined 0n the stem 13 between the'spring washer 18 and an annu lar shoulder 29 formed on said stem, and said sleeve has in one side an opening 30 to be brought into register with the whistle opening 14, thereby exposing said opening, when it is desired that the alarm shall sound and continue sounding; when it is desired that the whistle shall not sound or shall cease sounding the sleeve 19 will be turned to carry a solid portion thereof over and to thereby close the whistle opening 14:. The sleeve 19 is mounted for rotary movement and is prevented from accidental turning action by the pressure against the same of the spring washer 18. 1 preferably provide the sleeve 19 with ornamental side arms 31 asmeans for facilitating the manual turning of the same. If the whistle should sound due to the issuance of steam from the opening 14, the driver will know that an abnormal condition in the liquid circulation system for the cylinders of the engine exists and should be corrected, but if he should not at the time be in a situation to remedy the condition and should not wish to hear the whistle continue its sound, he may reversethe position of the sleeve 19 on the stem 13 so that the closed side of saidsleeve will cover over the opening 14 and thus render the whistle inoperative.

The whistle would. at that time have pertormed its duty of warning the driver and he upon arriving at a place where it might be possible for him to do so, should correct the abnormal condition indicated'lo him by the sounding of the whistle.

The stem 13 is threaded above the shoulder 29 to receive a lower threaded neck 32 on the ornament 33, which 1 apply upon the upper end 01. the stem and which may be of any desired configuration. The shoulder 29 serves as a stop against which the ornament may be-tightly screwed.

The dome 21 is of considerable inuaortancc in that by its action in collecting the steam, it affords a steanrchamber and the steam is su'liiciently retained in said chamber to materially'heat the dome and the lower end of the whistlestem. and this results in the steam retaining its heat and force until it reaches the whistle opening, the steam under this condition being more efiieien't in sound ingthe alarm than wouldbe the case it the steam were allowed'to cool or become reduced in temperature before entering the stem ofthe whistle.

T. regard the casing 22 open at its bottom and sides and holding the float 23 adapted to operate as a seal "for the lower end of the whistle stem, as a feature of prime importance since I have found that the great difilculties encountered in trying to prevent water from entering the whistle-stem while permitting steam to enter the same, are effectively overcome by the use of said casing and float.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is-- 1. For use on radiator tanks of motor vehicles and in combination with the tiller-cap thereof, alarm mechanism operable by steam pressure Within said tank comprising a whistle-stem extending through the top of said cap and secured thereto and having its sound-opening above said cap, a casing below the lower end of said stem and being open at its ends and sides and affording therein a float chamber, and a float normally resting in the lower end of said chamber and exposed on both faces to steam pressure and adapted on the rise of water against the same to move upwardly and close the lower end of said stem, for excluding water therefrom.

2. For use on radiator tanks of motor vehicles and in combination with the fillercap thereof, alarm mechanism operable by steam pressure within said tank compris ing a whistle-stem extending through the top of said cap and secured thereto and having its sound-opening above said cap, a ca ing below the lower end of said stem and affording therein a float chamber, said casing being open at both ends and having openings in its sides and an inwardly extending flange at its lower end, and a float within said chamber and normally resting on said flange and exposed on both faces to steam pressure and adapted on the rise of water against the same to move upwardly and close the lower end of said stem, for excluding water therefrom 3. For use on radiator tanks of motor vehicles and in combination with the filler-cap thereof, alarm mechanism operable by steam pressure within said tank comprising a whistle-stem extending through the top of said cap and secured thereto and having its sound-opening above said cap, a dome ap plied upon the lower end of said stem for directing steam thereto, a casing secured within said dome and below the lower end of said stem and being open at its ends and sides and affording therein a float chamber, and a float normally resting in the lower end of said chamber and exposed on both faces to steam pressure and adapted on the rise of water against the same to move upwardly and close the lower end of said stem, for excluding water therefrom.

For use on radiator tanks of motor vehicles and in combination with the filler-cap thereof, alarm mechanism operable by steam pressure within said tank comprising a whistle-stem extending through the top of said cap and secured thereto and having its sound-opening above said cap and an integral annular shoulder above said opening, a manually operative valve-sleeve on said stem below said shoulder for exposing or closing said opening, as may be desired, and a spring washer on-said stem between the top of said cap and the lower edge of said sleeve, said stem being extended above said shoulder to receive an ornament.

5. For use on radiator tanks of motor vehicles and in combination with the filler-cap thereof, alarm mechanism operable by steam pressure within said tank comprising a whistle-stem extending through the top of said cap and secured thereto and having its sound-opening above said cap, a dome threaded upon the lower end of said stem for directing steam thereto and said dome having a concentric threaded recess in its inner upper portion, a casing having an upper threaded end entering and engaging said threaded recess and being open at its ends and sides and affording therein a float chamber, and a float normally resting in the lower end of said chamber and exposed on both faces to steam pressure and adapted on the rise of water against the same to move upwardly and close the lower end of said stem, for excluding water therefrom.

6. For use on radiator tanks of motor vehicles and in combination with the fillercap thereof, alarm mechanism operable by steam pressure within said tank comprising a whistle-stem extending through the top of said cap and secured thereto and having its sound-opening above said cap, a dome connected with the lower end of said stem for directing steam thereto, and means within said dome exposed to and rendered idle by steam pressure and adapted to move to and seal the lower end of said stem upon the rising of water against it, for excluding water from said stem.

7. For use on radiator tanks of motor vehicles and in combination with the filler-cap thereof, alarm mechanism operable by steam pressure within said. tank comprising a whistle-stem extending through the top of said cap and secured thereto and having its sound-opening above said cap, and means below the lower end of said stem and exposed to and rendered idle by steam pressure and adapted to move to and seal the lower end of said stein upon the rising of water against it, for excluding water from said stem.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 16th day of August A. D. 1921.

LAFAYETTE C. GO-BETZ. 

